An article in Family Relations: Journal of Applied Family and Child Studies examines the cultural variations in parenting among Caucasian, African American, Hispanic, and Asian American parents. Julian, McKenry, & McKelvey (1994) undertook their study because previous research has not adequately examined the extent to which there are cultural differences in parenting, when economic factors are removed. In addition, the study by Julian and her colleagues (1994) is important because previous research had only compared one ethnic group at a time to the standard frame of reference for almost all prior research: the middle-class Caucasian family.
It is important to note that the researchers controlled the variable of socioeconomic status (SES) so that economic factors did not influence the cultural variables of ethnic diversity. They cite the work of Brooks (1990) who cautioned that parental differences based on culture may disappear when socioeconomic status is controlled (p. 30). Even so, Julian et al. (1994) found that there were family interaction differences between ethnic groups, although not as pronounced as much of popular culture would lead the public to believe.
Stress related to low socioeconomic status is the most pronounced variable to be avoided, because it can lead to socioemotional upheaval--namely, disharmony and eventual disintegration of family units. As McKenry & Price (1994) have observed, "as American families have strived for a continuing improvement in their quality of life, they have actually experienced a decrease in economic and socioemotional well-being in recent years" (p. 2). In fact, young family members must contend with the realization that there are fewer opportunities and resources available for them as compared with their parents. Young adults and teenagers of low socioeconomic status tend to have children at an earlier age than their upper socioeconomic counterparts, and a cycle of despair...